Beating the summer heat with a trip to the corner store for a taste of that magical elixir known as a “Slurpee” offered me a joyous encounter with a rack of vintage blogs known as “Magazines”. There I spied my favorite wastes of paper ever (no, not that, Perv-o’s, this is a family store): The Fantasy Hockey Guides! Was it that time of year already? “Squee!” I was giddy with anticipation for this year’s rankings. Their annual dose of wit and wisdom has never failed to lead me to mighty mediocrity in my keeper league (oh, this shoddy workman will blame the tools, people!) but, I realize, they can only provide limited insight.

How do you go about selecting players for much, much deeper leagues? Leagues where you will need to explore the depths of places like The Black Dragon Valley or the Mountains of Phantasmagore? Who has your back in an Orc brawl or at the Coven of Malevolent Wizards’ Summer Solstice Chili Cook-off? We all know which of our winsome Jets are going to provide the best bang for buck in our Fantasy League but what of the Fantasy Fantasy League? This is a trickier proposition and several of the nascent Jets may prove worthy allies or wily adversaries during your weekly head-to-head’s this season. Let’s assess some of the notable selections to draft or avoid for the 2013/14 campaign! And may Clawthorn, God of Silk-Lined Codpieces, watch over you on the battlefield.

OFFENSE

Ladd is a Class 27 Swordsman and Class 19 Smithy – not too shabby! In a 2012 campaign riddled with impetuous assaults on Weather Nymphs and Fire Gibbons (whose tactical concept was that, Claude Noel?!) Ladd was outstanding both in attacks and in defense of his own realm. Look for another strong year from the truehearted Captain!

Kane is much feared in magic-based battles. His command of the dark arts is unrivaled in Winnipeg as a Class 45 Warlock. That can only be interpreted as one thing: bad-ass. He will melt your spleen and cast you into a cruel parallel universe where only Glenn Healy is there to talk to, all in one spell! Seriously, if you haven’t drafted him then stay alert when you have to face him – he will cross-check your psyche. (Secret Weakness: YouTube videos of narcoleptic dogs. If you can deploy these against him early in the battle, he will be a non-factor for the rest of the melee. He loves those sad, little dogs!)

Mighty hero of the tundra, born and raised in the tiny hamlet of Calamitous Bluffs, Dustin has the speed and strength of a water buffalo and the cunning of a snow cheetah! Someone please buy him Cross-Fit for Christmas. (Secret health tip: Byfuglien actually gains hit points for eating at Wendy’s! Something to keep in mind for long road campaigns.)

Enstrom had a rough go last year, what with being victimized by his traitorous countrymen during the Frost Giant Charity Flaying in Huntsland, Earth Prime. Who could have predicted such treachery? His time-shifting abilities were never going to be protection enough. This year, with a proper Spell of Parsimony in his pocket, his plus-minus should be pretty sweet.

Jacob Trouba (AKA Jacob Tuba… heheh, his name sounds like tuba...)

Assets: unknown

Play him at your own peril. Despite much promise he is untested in top-level campaigns. His name does sound like “tuba” though and that is hilarious to minotaurs.

He’s a bit of a sieve, isn’t he? Forget it. Who wants to come over and listen to Queen 2 with me? Brain May shreds like a combine, babies!

Al Montoya

(What’s an Al Montoya…?)

GENERAL FORECAST

Fellow gamers, this is going to be a challenging and unpredictable campaign. The Mages are conspiring and the Sirens of Timidor are calling, albeit meekly. Will there be any Jets in your fellowship? I think there’s room for a few, especially if Scheifele The Narrow-Hipped should blossom into the warrior of destiny he’s, uh… destined to be. Good luck out there this year, on sea or or on land, Earth Prime or Earths 2 through 8. No one said freedom from tyranny and the ceaseless gratitude of tavern wenches was easily won. The road to the Clawthorn Cup starts here, my brave warriors! For glory, honour and the good people of Calamitous Bluffs: Chaaaaarge!!!

Dearly beloved
We are gathered here today
2 get through this thing called life
Electric word life
It means forever and that's a mighty long time
But I'm here 2 tell u
There's something else...
U can follow me on Twitter if that's your bag: @ebheater

I figure I'll cheer for the new Ottawa franchise. They get two QBs and the Bombers have 1/2 of one. MacPherson must be kicking himself now. The Bombers having crappy RBs (better than Hamilton, Mtl), crappy receivers (better than BC, now Cgy), and only better QB depth than Edm.
I don't know why we didn't release Jokinen. He was maybe the worst FW in the NHL last year. I like Det, Chi, Wpg. I'll consider dropping Wpg after this year. Maybe get some cable and pick a jr team in 2014. SIgning those big 3 long-term contracts ensured the team will be competitive enough over the next 4 years, but with the cap limit reached....Grabovski just signed for $3M, clutch playoff Penner for $2M, Hainsey won't go for $4M...we need the kids to play good for FW depth. The kids in the playoffs won't win a playoff round, and this team could've easily contended for a Cup this yr.
I'd come back to the Jest when the kids are ready after the last wicked draft. Did we get the #1 18 yr old prospect in the SWedish Jr league with the last pick? He will be one of their 10 olympic candidates one day. I got Oduya on their 4th FW line and Edler on their third. Best pick ever. Need better TV coverage of olympic crappier games. Should be rebroadcast on main network middle of night if necessary.